The new book from Dr. Wess Stafford

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About The Book

Stafford shares the stories of well-recognized and unknown people alike to refute the old adage “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me,” especially for the young minds of children. He gives simple tips and examples of how anyone can positively impact a child in just a moment and how all of us are equipped to do it.

Dr. Wess Stafford President, Compassion International

Dr. Wess Stafford is an internationally recognized advocate for children. Since 1977 he has worked with Compassion International and has served as President since 1993. He hosts a national radio program, Speak Up with Compassion®. Wess lives on a small ranch near Colorado Springs, Colorado, with his wife Donna. They are the parents of two daughters, Jenny and Katie. Wess' own life experiences have uniquely prepared him for his role. He often says, “Everything I really need to know to lead a multinational organization I learned from the poor, growing up in an African Village.”

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CHAPTER 1

My sportscaster friend Jerry Schemmel, now the well-known “Voice of the Colorado Rockies,” survived the 1989 crash of United Flight 232 at Sioux City, Iowa.

Miraculously he emerged safe in a cornfield, relieved and standing clear of the burning wreckage…

when he heard a baby's screams still inside that smoke–filled fuselage.

He dashed back into the carnage, followed the cries through the billowing smoke, and rescued a little eleven month–old girl named Sabrina Michaelson. His story is told in his powerful book Chosen to Live.

As Jerry sat in my office reliving that story for me, I wanted to jump up and say, “Me too! That's what I would have done!”

But would I? Would you?

Nothing grips our hearts more on the evening news, putting a lump in our throats, than watching a firefighter rescue a shivering child from an icy lake—or a bloodied soldier hoisting his wounded friend onto his shoulder and carrying him to safety amid a hail of bullets and explosions.

Such acts of selfless heroism cannot be rehearsed or anticipated. That amazing spirit either resides deep within us, or it doesn't.

The drama seizes us in an unexpected moment, and we act–or we don't in just a minute.

There are no second chances, no coulda–woulda–shoulda options. In the instant, heroes seldom know the full significance of what they are doing. In fact, they may never know. Is this child's life a fair exchange for my own? If I die in the process of rescuing her, will she live to achieve more than I might have? There is no time for such thoughts.

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Advocate for Children

In response to the Great Commission, Compassion International exists as an advocate for children, to release them from their spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enable them to become responsible and fulfilled Christian adults.

Learn more about Compassion International

To learn more about this revolutionary approach to Christian, holistic child development, go to www.compassion.com.